Wire fence.



110.7%,256. PATENTED JULY 19, 1904.

s. G. SHAW.

WIRE FENCE;

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 14, 1903 NO MODEL.

WITNESSES; INVENTOR.

UNITED STATES Patented July 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

STERL G. SHAW, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FROST IRE FENCE CO., OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

WIRE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 765,256, dated July 19, 1904 A li ati n fil d December 14, 1903. Serial No. 185,023. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEEL Gr. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Wire Fences; and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in wire fences; and the invention consists in a lock or tie for securing vertical and horizontal wires together and in a fence in which the lock constitutes an essential part, all substantially as shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

The method usually followed in the erection of wire fences upon the ground where used has been to string a series of horizontal wires between posts and then fasten 0r tie vertical wires thereto at suitable distances apart by suitable means, varying according to many difierent inventions. I am therefore aware that various forms of ties or looks for this purpose have been and are now in use; but I do not know of any tie or lock similar in construction to my present improvement nor one wherein the same or similar results are obtained. The prime object of a lock of this character is or should be to effectually lock and fix the wires in respect to each other so that they will withstand all strain of downward pressure and endwise pull and not yield at the point of their engagement.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of two crossing wires and my improved lock or tie in locking position thereon as it appears in a fence construction. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation on line y 3 Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on line :22 m, Fig. 2, of the lock and wires. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the parts assembled and as appears just before final locking is effected. Fig. 5 is a view of the lock itself as an article of manufacture.

A represents one of a series of horizontal wires of a fence, and B a vertical wire which is threaded through openings 2 in the sides 0 of U-shaped lock C, which constitutes the 5 locking member of the union. This lock or tie, in effect, becomes a lock when the wires are threaded through the samesay as seen in Fig. L-and in making permanent engagement the wires themselves become an integral part of the combination to produce a strong and unitary construction. Now having threaded or united the parts as in Fig. 4, by first placing the lock on the horizontal wire and then threading the vertical wire down through the lock the said parts are further and rigidly fixed together by forcibly driving a portion of the metal of the lock itselfintothe horizontal or next adjacent wire, and this is done by striking or driving a tool into the 5 back 3 of the look, so as to produce a projection or hump ettherein opposite the crossingof wires A and B, whereby wire A is bent and has formed in it a rounded indentation 5 and a projection or hump 6 at its rear, caused by driving 7 the projection or hump 4: of the back of the lock thereinto and seen in Figs. 2 and 3. As this occurs the wire B itself is struck back or bent at 7, forming a projection or hump 8 opposite its indentation 7, Fig. 3, and said hump or projection 8 is forced back correspondingly out of a vertical line between the upper and lower sides 0 of blank or look C, Fig. 2, thus for-minga shouldered engagement of said wire B within lock C at its holes 2 and against the edges of said holes. The said lock C is preferably made out of sheet metal; but other metal than the wires may be used, and when indented, as at 4, on the outside of its back 3 the projection 4. thereby necessarily bites or is 5 driven into the body of wire A and thoroughly locks said wire therewith. Thus it is seen that when wires are brought together in the relation shown in a lock of this special kind a suitable blow or thrust delivered to produce in- 9 dentation 4 will cause all the metal behind the same to flow into interlocking relation. This, of course, assumes that the lock and wires are properly backed to resist the blow or thrust except where yielding is required, and a hand-tool made for the purpose of erecting fences may be used, or the work can be done in the factory where the wire structure as such is produced, or otherwise. In order to get the proper locking effect, as described, the preferable point for striking the lock is on the back thereof opposite the exact center of crossing of wires A and B. More than one indentation may be made in the parts and more projections struck up to bite in wire A; but the one has been found sufficient for all practical purposes.

The greatest strain that a lock of this character comes under is from weight or pressure down upon wire A, as would occur if a person were to step thereon in climbing over the fence; but the interlocking of the parts by my construction is such that this strain is easily withstood, and, indeed, the fence will withstand any strain that may come upon it within the strength of the wire and not yield or surrender in the lock itself.

Lock C may be made in any available way; but the preferred way is to strike it from sheet-steel and bend it to shape, with its sides 0 substantially parallel and its back 3 straight, and'in this form it goes to the trade.

Obviously this invention is not necessarily limited to wire fences, but may be used in any wire structure where it may be found desirable.

What I claim is 1. In a wire fence, vertical and horizontal wires, and a lock therefor of substantially U shape provided with openings through which the vertical wire is threaded, said wires and look all having indentations and humps successively one behind the other and at right angles to said openings, substantially as described. I

2. The combination of the lock having a substantially U shape back portion and fiat sides with holes at right angles through the same, and two cross-wires engaged through said back and holes respectively, and having interlocking indentations and projections successively within the sides of said lock, substantially as described.

3. In a wire fence, vertical and horizontal cross-wires, and a device connecting said wires having an inward projection uponits back portion engaged in an indentation in the wire adjacent thereto, and the said wires directly interlocked with each other opposite said indentation and projection, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

STEEL G. SHAW.

Witnesses:

R. B. Moses, 0. A. SELL. 

